Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley

So, I'm finally getting around to reading Ancient Monuments of the Mississippie Valley (Squier and Davis 1848) "for realsies." For the uninitiated, this was the first book published by the Smithsonian, used to kick start American science being taken seriously by the world. It was an attempt at a systematic survey of the mound groups in the US (focusing on Ohio, the Mississippi river, some of the SE and the Upper Midwest). Prior to this I had been content with flipping through it, looking at the maps (and appreciating them as art, if not for their accuracy in description of the earthworks...since 150 year old techniques don't quite measure up and recent ground-truthing has shown the maps to be a little less than accurate at times). Sometimes I'd browse the articles, but if the maps are suspect, the writings are laughable in general.

However, if I take a step back from being concerned about little things like "reality" and "accuracy" and "out-right racism" it really is a remarkable work. Of course I'm just jealous that Squier and Davis were able to explore so much of Ohio before development had totally hosed the sites (although even in Ancient Monuments S&D lament "At the period when the original survey...twelve years ago, the lines could all be made out. A few years hence, the residents upon the spot [Newark, OH] will be compelled to resort to this map, to ascertain the character of the works which occupied the very ground upon which they stand").

The audacity to think that two men, even if they networked with some local enthusiasts, could within a period of 5 years survey the entirety of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and their earthworks, as well as conduct enough excavations to satisfy their questions. Bold times my friends, bold times for bold men. What makes this audacity even more outrageous is that their work stood for fifty years before being challenged (and really is the only resource for many of these sites). Were it not for my inability to generate wealth, I'd say I was born 200 years too late, as I can only wish I were able to work on projects on that sort of scale. While I wouldn't want to give up my tools necessarily (carbon dating, all sorts of methodology, etc.), the opportunity...

Reading the book in that mindset I'm just boggled, baffled, amazed, and astounded. Not just at what they were trying (and failing) to do, but also what "used to be." Ah well, it was just too easy for them...they'd never make it a week out at Wildcat. That's where real men are made.

Oh well. We don't get to choose the times in which we live. Still, I really want to find these things poster sized and get them framed: (click for full size)